Byer & Dawson Win Gran Travers Classic

Wed, Feb
16, 2005 - By Mike Muha

Christian Byar wons the Gran Travers in 38:24, one second ahead of Greg Worsnop. Randy Bladel finished third, one day after he won the Vasa 27Km Classic Race.

Team NordicSkiRacer Natalie Dawson, back home from school in Albuquerque, New Mexico, beat out Tracy Hardin for first place among women. Amy Kostrzewa came in third.

Conditions were fast and rock hard. With temperatures in the 20's, the melting that occurred with Saturday's warm temperatures froze solid, creating very abrasive trail conditions. Many racers complained that their klister was gone in the first few kilometers of the race.

The faster racers pretty much doublepoled the course, using a herringbone to climb the hills in the Jack Pine loop.